This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7634845.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 9 | Version 10 |
---|---|
Motlanthe elected as SA president | Motlanthe elected as SA president |
(10 minutes later) | |
South Africa's parliament has elected ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe as interim president to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down. | South Africa's parliament has elected ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe as interim president to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down. |
Mr Motlanthe won three-quarters of the votes cast in a secret ballot of MPs in Cape Town and will be sworn in later. | Mr Motlanthe won three-quarters of the votes cast in a secret ballot of MPs in Cape Town and will be sworn in later. |
After his election, Mr Motlanthe vowed to continue on the same economic path that has "kept South Africa steady". | |
Mr Motlanthe will serve until polls next year, when Mr Zuma, as ANC leader, is widely expected to become president. | |
Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday amid claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma. | Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday amid claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma. |
He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down in the interests of party unity, as the ANC (African National Congress) leadership said it was recalling him. | He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down in the interests of party unity, as the ANC (African National Congress) leadership said it was recalling him. |
Smooth transition? | Smooth transition? |
Mr Motlanthe is a long-serving member of the party hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, says the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles. | Mr Motlanthe is a long-serving member of the party hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, says the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles. |
South Africans speak out about Thabo Mbeki's resignationIn pictures | South Africans speak out about Thabo Mbeki's resignationIn pictures |
During the apartheid years, he was imprisoned on Robben Island along with Nelson Mandela. | During the apartheid years, he was imprisoned on Robben Island along with Nelson Mandela. |
After his release in 1987, he became a top official of the National Union of Mineworkers and then the ANC, although he only became an MP in May this year. | After his release in 1987, he became a top official of the National Union of Mineworkers and then the ANC, although he only became an MP in May this year. |
South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance had put forward chairman Joe Seremane to challenge in the presidential vote, but as the ANC has a huge majority, Mr Motlanthe's victory was a foregone conclusion. | South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance had put forward chairman Joe Seremane to challenge in the presidential vote, but as the ANC has a huge majority, Mr Motlanthe's victory was a foregone conclusion. |
He won 269 of the 368 votes cast, said Chief Justice Pius Langa of the constitutional court. | He won 269 of the 368 votes cast, said Chief Justice Pius Langa of the constitutional court. |
"I accordingly declare the honourable Kgalema Motlanthe the duly elected president of the republic of South Africa," he added, to loud cheers from the national assembly. | "I accordingly declare the honourable Kgalema Motlanthe the duly elected president of the republic of South Africa," he added, to loud cheers from the national assembly. |
However, there were more than 40 spoiled ballots, which suggests a protest by some MPs, our correspondent says. | However, there were more than 40 spoiled ballots, which suggests a protest by some MPs, our correspondent says. |
In his first speech as president, Mr Motlanthe promised the country's economic policies would not change, and that he would intensify efforts to create more jobs. | |
"In a turbulent global economy, we will remain true to the policies that have kept South Africa steady, and that have ensured sustained growth," he said. | |
Mr Molanthe is seen as a figure who can help to ease tensions between supporters of Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. | |
One of his tasks will be to ensure a smooth political transition given much talk of feuding and divisions within the ANC, our correspondent adds. | |
Mr Zuma is not an MP and so was not eligible to be elected president. He watched Thursday's vote from the public gallery. | Mr Zuma is not an MP and so was not eligible to be elected president. He watched Thursday's vote from the public gallery. |
Mr Mbeki had been invited to attend the parliamentary session, but declined. | Mr Mbeki had been invited to attend the parliamentary session, but declined. |
Flurry of resignations | Flurry of resignations |
Earlier, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe described Mr Mbeki's resignation as "devastating". | Earlier, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe described Mr Mbeki's resignation as "devastating". |
KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio Motlanthe: Safe hands | KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio Motlanthe: Safe hands |
Mr Mbeki was the key mediator during months of negotiations that recently led to a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. | Mr Mbeki was the key mediator during months of negotiations that recently led to a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. |
"It's devastating news that President Mbeki is no longer president... but that is the action of the South African people," he was quoted as saying by Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper. | "It's devastating news that President Mbeki is no longer president... but that is the action of the South African people," he was quoted as saying by Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper. |
"Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing." | "Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing." |
It is not clear whether Mr Mbeki will continue with his role. | It is not clear whether Mr Mbeki will continue with his role. |
Mr Mbeki's departure led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets. | Mr Mbeki's departure led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets. |
The widely-respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel was among 11 cabinet ministers who resigned, but he has said he would be happy to serve a new president. | The widely-respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel was among 11 cabinet ministers who resigned, but he has said he would be happy to serve a new president. |
Corruption charges against Mr Zuma were thrown out by a court earlier this month on a legal technicality. | Corruption charges against Mr Zuma were thrown out by a court earlier this month on a legal technicality. |
It remains unclear whether they will be pressed for a third time. | It remains unclear whether they will be pressed for a third time. |
His supporters have long claimed that a series of charges against him were part of a plot to stop him becoming president. | His supporters have long claimed that a series of charges against him were part of a plot to stop him becoming president. |